July, 2013

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Over the years, I have heard a number of excuses for not getting organized. These are the five I have heard the most, and the ones that I think are easily solved.

I don’t have timeHow much time do you waste looking for something? How many things has the black hole in your house swallowed? Have you ever had to go buy something to replace something you thought you lost, only to come across it later? Investing the up front time to organize your space will be well worth it in the long term. Start out in 15 minutes increments per day. Tackle a drawer, not a room (unless you’re feeling great after that first drawer)!

I’ll forget where I put things
The point of organization is not just to put things away and out of sight, it’s to put things in a place that makes sense to you. If you find yourself still looking for something after you put it away, it’s in the wrong place.

I don’t have anywhere to put thingsBe creative. You don’t need to go out and buy a bunch of storage bins and label them (although I personally like to label things). If you’re a pack rat, you might need to part with those old magazines or catalogs to make room for things that really matter. Ask a buddy to help you work through it or hire a professional. Sometimes just talking through it will help you figure out where your things really belong.

I can’t get rid of it, I might need it laterAsk yourself a few questions. When was the last time you used it? Where is it being kept now? Did you miss it or realize you even had it before you just came across it? Will you use it in the next month? If it’s a holiday item, will you use it this holiday season?

If the answer to the first question is “more than a year ago,” consider getting rid of it. If it’s been a box and you haven’t used it, and it’s not the answer to a problem you’ve been trying to solve, it’s time to part with it. If you’re still struggling with it, put it in a box of “might donate/sell” and write a date on it. If you don’t go looking for it in the next year, get rid of it!

I can’t afford it
Your view of professional organization might be based on an organizing television show. They completely redo a couple of rooms over the course of 2 days to a week, and many times, they have the budget to buy lots of storage, repaint the room, and even have a carpenter build custom storage solutions. You don’t need all that to get organized! You can use things that exist in your home – even paper grocery bags and shoe boxes – to keep things in order. If you do need help, hiring a professional organizer may be more affordable than you think.